The 15 Best Sake & Bar Hopping Tours in Kyoto

1.Kyoto Night Foodie Tour in Gion (9+ dishes + 6 Sake tastings)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,762 reviews · from $163Our pick

Spend about three and a half hours eating through Gion and Pontocho with a group of no more than seven. Expect Kyoto vegetable dishes, local specialties, drinks, and sake tasting at a standing bar, with guides such as Jimmy, Emma, Rika, and Yuki adding food and neighborhood context.

“Ok experience. The guide was knowledgeable about the area. Too much politics were discussed for my taste,”

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2.3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 917 reviews · from $84

Spend three hours in Kyoto’s Fushimi sake district with a certified Sake Sommelier. Visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, sample 10 styles, compare food pairings, and learn how to read sake labels. Guides such as Kyoko, Miyuki, Mai, and Shogo bring a clear, friendly approach to beginners.

“This was such an amazing experience! Our guide was very informative, we learned so much about Sake!! We would highly recommend this tour💕”

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3.Arashiyama Bamboo, Temple, Monkeys, or Secret Sake Brewery

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 886 reviews · 5 hours - 330 minutes · from $87

Meet your English-speaking guide at Saga-Arashiyama Station for a five-hour walk through the bamboo grove, Nonomiya Shrine, Okochi Sanso Garden, Tenryuji Temple, and Monkey Park. Choose a shopping-and-monkey route or a local lunch with sake tasting. Guides include Karim, Tom, Francis, Toru, and others.

“We had a fantastic time Tom is an excellent guide. He was so knowledgeable and took everything at a nice easy pace. We had the benefit of a small group, so it was able to answer all our questions . The tour covered some lovely areas and we saw things that we definitely would have missed. I would definitely recommend it to anybody visiting Kyoto .”

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4.Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 815 reviews · 3 hours · from $25Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kyoto’s Disney Store and spend three hours walking through Kawaramachi and Kiyamachi. Expect small-group bar hopping, local food, sake tasting, cultural notes, and a final stop at a tucked-away bar. Guides include Moto, Taiga, Mia, Leo, Lyou, and others.

“Taiga was our guide and he did such an amazing job showing us around the izakayas while giving us a nice background about the drinks and Kyoto!! So much fun!!!”

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5.Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 704 reviews · 3 hours · from $87

Meet an English-speaking sake expert at Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum in Fushimi. Walk through the brewing process, compare 10 or more sake styles, then taste them with otsumami in a private tasting room. You’ll learn how to read labels, choose hot or cold sake, and order with confidence.

“What an amazing experience! We loved her approach including the presentation in large format so we all could see it as well as the little business card sized cheat sheet. The museum was educational and the separate tasting was also special. I appreciated the tasting starting on its own and then again wi the food - what a difference! Thank you, again. Truly amazing experience!!”

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6.Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 623 reviews · from $98

Walk through Kyoto’s Fushimi sake district, visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, pass historic Teradaya, and stop at Kappa Gallery before tasting up to 18 Kyoto sakes at a local sake restaurant. Guides such as Matt, Rika, Kumi, and Yukari add history, tasting advice, and local tips.

“We had the best experience with our guide (Eri), she was so sweet and interactive! Highly recommend this tour to anyone who loves Sake or wants to gain more knowledge and taste a wide variety of local sakes”

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7.Kyoto Bar Hopping Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 613 reviews · from $105

Spend three hours with a MagicalTrip guide such as Nami, Yumi, Noriko, or Josh, walking from Gion Shijo Station through Pontocho and Kiyamachi. Visit three local izakayas and bars, enjoy three to four drinks and dinner-sized dishes, and learn about Kyoto life along the way.

“Fun tour and environments. The food was a bit disappointing at the second location (first time they said the tour had stopped there) but the atmosphere and company was great. It was nice to get a grasp of the neighborhood.”

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8.1.5-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings & Pairings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 297 reviews · from $68

Spend 90 minutes in a private Fushimi tasting room with a certified sake sommelier such as Mayo, Kiyomi, or Greg. Taste seven sakes, compare flavors with traditional otsumami snacks, learn how brewing changes the drink, and leave with notes to guide future orders.

“A very nice and insightful tour. The location is a bit remote, but I think it's worth it :) We had a great time with Mayo.”

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9.Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings and Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 266 reviews · 1h 30m · from $66

In a dedicated Kyoto tasting room, an English-speaking sake expert such as Mayo, Kotaro, or Kiyomi guides you through seven generous tastings, brewing basics, bottle reading, and food pairings. You will compare dry, sweet, fruity, and crisp styles, then use a cheat sheet to choose sake in Japan.

“We really enjoyed our experience and learned a lot! Our guide was amazing and very knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend!”

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10.Afternoon Japanese Izakaya Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 241 reviews · 3 hours · from $67

Spend three hours at Cooking Sun in Kyoto learning everyday izakaya cooking with English-speaking instructors such as Yumi and Yumiko. You cook in two rounds, usually making five or six savory dishes and dessert, then sit down to eat what you prepared. Recipes are provided for home use.

“A completely brilliant afternoon of making local Japanese food which we could easily make again at home. Wonderful instruction, friendly staff and we loved the food we made. A really great experience. Thank you for helping to make Japanese food accessible. Delicious.”

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11.Izakaya Style Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 219 reviews · from $71

At Cooking Sun Kyoto, an English-speaking chef and team guide you through dashi, Japanese seasonings, and several izakaya-style dishes in a traditional wooden house. You cook, eat, and take home the recipes. Classes begin at 2pm and last about three hours, with groups capped at eight.

“My 3rd Cooking Sun class didn’t disappoint. The instructors are nice and very patient answering the classes questions. The cucumber salad is still one of my favorites it I think the Pumpkin soup is now my #1. The pasta was delicious and I loved the mochi dessert we made.”

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12.Gion Evening Walk with Hidden Gems, Geisha & Sake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 1h 30m · from $32

Walk through Gion with an English-speaking local guide, often including guides such as Shumpei or Nick, in a group of no more than 10. Visit Hanamikoji, Yasui Kompira-gū, Hōkan-ji, Ninenzaka, and Yasaka Shrine while enjoying included local sake and photo help.

“We had an amazing tour eventhough it was raining. Our guide was so nice, gave us a lot of insights in the culture and was interested in all of us. Because of the weather the streets were really quiet so we had an unique and beautiful experience of Gion. The sake was really tasty and we got the chance to meet some lovely people and have a drink afterwards. Would totally recommend!”

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13.Fushimi Sake Brewery Tour – 18 Tastings in 2.5 Hours

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 36 reviews · 2h 30m · from $93

Spend 150 minutes with an English or Japanese guide in Fushimi, Kyoto. Visit the Gekkeikan Ōkura Museum and Kizakura Kappa Museum, then taste 18 sakes at Fushimizu Sake Brewery Alley. Guides such as Yoshi, Akino, Kaito, and Yuko add history, tasting advice, and local tips.

“our guide Yuko was outstanding! we got a lot of information, laughs, and insights. she went above and beyond for not only this tour, but recommendations for other sights to see. Can't thank her enough!!”

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14.Beyond the Insider Sake Tasting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $66

In a private Kyoto tasting room, a certified sake sommelier guides you through 10 uncommon varieties, from ancient-style brews to sake made with local wood and unusual microorganisms. You will learn the basics, compare production methods, and receive tasting notes. Food and transport are not included.

“Excellent presentation and description of the types of sake and their production process. Highly recommended!”

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15.Foodie Night Tour in Gion with 9 dishes + 6 Sake

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 26 reviews · 3h 30m · from $361

Meet your English-speaking guide at Gion Shijo Station for an evening walk through Gion and Pontocho. You’ll eat nine Kyoto dishes, sample six local sakes, enjoy dessert, and hear how locals spend a night out. Guide Rika has earned praise for making group conversations flow.

“Rika was an excellent tour guide, who facilitated great conversations between us all. The food spots also felt local and authentic.”

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